Today Leta tried to come and help Leticia translate morning rounds at the hospital. It didnt really work. The doctors mumble and speak too fast when they present. I always think that if they were marking someone on their presentation and did it like they did they would get a big fat fail! Its frustrating as it really inhibits how much we can get involved.
ED was very interesting today. At home Mondays are always the busiest as everyone rushes in after a weekend of being unwell. Apparently, this phenomenon is universal. The ED was full of patients when we arrived.
Our first patient was an elderly quechuan woman. The quechua people are one of indigenous people groups of this area. They speak their own language that is entirely different to spanish. Luckily many medical professionals in this area are taught quechua. Many people in this area may also be part quechuan and have basic understanding of their language and culture passed down from family members. This old woman was delirious and crying out for her mother in her native tongue. She was very distressed and was kicking and punching doctors. In no time it was found that she had a very low blood sugar and this was amended. With an infusion of glucose the transformation was instantaneous and she settled and calmly fell asleep.
Our next patient was a 3 year old boy who had recently had an operation to seperate his fused fingers. He was presenting for redressing. Due to his age a simple procedure like this requires sedation. A 3 year old is not going to let you anywhere near his sore hands. The boy was given ketamine and was lulled into an an awake stupor. It is used mostly in kids as it is safe and easy to use for light sedation in these minor type procedures. It has also been the object of abuse. It can give you some very interesting hallucinations. While the drug is acting kids are pain-free and unaware of what is happening but they're eyes can be open and they appear to be awake. Its wierd!
We also saw a sigmoidoscopy be performed on a man with an obstruction post a bowel operation. This is not an appropriate platform from which to explain what this procedure entails. This man was in a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort. This was very unsettling to watch. In Australia, the patient's comfort is always a priority. Here not so much so; time, resources and cost all make pain management slightly lower on the scale. I had to leave the room as it was too difficult to see the man in this pain and literally made me feel sick. Leticia who has not had much exposure to medical procedures and this is certainly was not a good place to start. He had terrible scarring and what seemed like a prolapse and the nature of this procedure means that there is poop everywhere. This poor girls initiation to the world of medicine was quite shocking and left her feeling nauseous and looking green!
Today Tiffany and I went to the market in Vinto with Leta to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The market is made of many men and woman clambering over eachother to sell you their fresh produce. Sometimes they may have mounds of tomatoes, potatoes, oranges etc. Others may have a small selection that is the produce of a tiny veggie patch. It was so interesting to see all the produce and the way it is sold. Cereals, pastas, flour, sugar, spices etc are sold from big sacks.
It is set out on a large plot of rocky dirt. Ladies from Anocaraire had beautiful flowers laid out on the ground. The market is surrounded by rubbish that has been discarded without a thought. Sheep graze in the nearby mounds of rubbish. Stands selling the hats worn by the women in traditional dress are situated next to a young girl selling chicks from a crowded box of fluffy, chirping, scrambling babies. Tiff very nearly bought one of these extremely unflattering hats in the endeavour to embrace the culture. I wanted a chick but didnt know how Australian customs would feel about that.
When we got home we went about the fruit and veg disinfecting process that follows every visit to the market. That night I cooked curry. So good to have some food that I would normally have at home. The girls really enjoyed it too. Has been nice here having someone cook for you but I miss cooking too.
While I have been blogging I found this blog that is a cooking blog for 20-somethings...seemed pretty cool. For anyone who is interested here's the link...http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/
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